Window sash hanger



Nov. 14, 1961 H. K. LUNDGREN wINDow sAsI-x HANGER Filed Jan. 22. 1959 United States Patent M 3,008,179 WINDOW SASH HANGER Herbert K. Lundgren, 815 N. Washburn St., Oshkosh, Wis. Filed Jan. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 788,420 7 Claims. (Cl. 16-202) 'I'his invention relates generally to the hanging of vertically slidable window sashes in window frames, and more especially to a hanger for interconnecting a supported window sash and a supporting sash balancing means.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision in a vertically slidable window sash mounting of an improved hanger element for use with a counterba-lancing spring, wherein the hanger is adapted for guided movement relative to the sash mounting while maintaining a very low noise operating level. A further object of the present invention is the provision of a hanger element of the type described, which can be readily and inexpensively fabricated from moldable or extrudable material, such as plastic, and which provides in a single element adaptation for use with either inner or outer sashes and at both sides of the sashes.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein there is illustrated one embodiment of a hanger constructed in accordance with the present invention.v

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a Window frame construction incorporating a hanger embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top sectional View, including upper and lower sashes, of the window frame illustrated in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the hanger shown in FIG. '1; and

FIG. 4 is a top View of the hanger shown in FIG. 3.

The hanger element disclosed in this application is employed to support a window sash through detachable connections with the sash itself and with the sash balancing means. Although the disclosed hanger element may be utilized in association with a wide variety of different mounting arrangements for vertically slidable, double hung window sashes, the disclosed hanger element 9 is shown, for purposes of illustration, in association with the upper and lower sashes 111 and 13 which are formed along each side edge with a central longitudinal recess and which are located in a particular window frame construction including a side member 17, an outside stop 19 and an inside trim member 21.

In the illustrated Window frame construction, there is secured to the side member 17, between the outside stop 19 and the inner trim 21, a combination guide and weather stripping member 25, rllhe illustrated member is formed of sheet metal and comprises a bottom 27 having a longitudinally extending central channel 29 which forms the parting stop between the upper and lower sashes 11 and 13. The combination guide and weather stripping member 25 is also formed on each side of the central channel with a longitudinally extending rib or housing 31 disposed in position for projection into the recess 15 in the adjacent side edge of the associated window sash. The housing formations act to afford effective weather stripping action, to guide the sliding sashes and, also, to house portions of the sash balancing means. In this regard, the particular housing 31 shown in the drawings is of lgenerally circular cross section, having a free, longitudinally disposed edge 35 which is spaced from the bottom 27. Of course, various other constructions might readily be employed to provide the sash guidance and weather stripping fea- 3,008,179 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 tures provided by the illustrated combination guide and 'weather stripping member.

The window sashes 11 and 13 can be effectively supported by any suitable sash balancing means. However, there is shown in this case a pair of balancing springs 3-7 which are suitably attached to the supporting frame, or to the sash yguide 25, at their upper ends and which are formed with a loop or hook 3-9 at their lower ends for disengageable attachment to the hanger elements. In the preferred arrangement, the springs are covered with a coating of suitable non-metallic material to'prevent excessive and undesirable scraping noise between the springs 37 and the guide and weather stripping member 25 during opening and closing movement of the window sashes.

As seen particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4, the improved hanger element 9 which interconnects the balancing means and the supported window sash is formed generally by the assembly of a slide 41 and a clip or bracket y43, both of which are designed to afford ready assembly into either left or right hand construction. Both of these components are also particularly designed to obtain the combined advantages of extremely inexpensive fabrication, and of quiet operation during movement of the s-upported window sash. This double feature is obtained by fabricating the components from a strong plastic which also has very low noise generating characteristics when sliding in contact with wood and/ or metal. A hard vinyl plastic has been found to provide quiet operation as well as adequate strength for the intended purpose. In addition, the components have been further inexpensively designed to permit their fabrication by extrusion into a long bar and subsequent slicing or cutting of the extruded bar to form the basic parts, which are then assembled so as to be readily adaptable for use with either sash and on either side thereof. Of course, the hanger element may also be molded as an integral unit but this type of construction is considerably more expensive, and in addition, the advantage of obtaining left and right hand constructions from the same parts and production equipment would be lost as left `and right hand units would then have to be separately molded.

As can be seen most readily from FIGURES 3 and 4, the extruded plate or slide 41 is of generally rectangular form having a at rear Vface 44 for sliding engagement with the lbottom 27 of the combination guide and weather stripping member. The other, or front face 45 of the slide, is formed with a central longitudinally extending ridge or rib 47 which provides certain guidance characteristics and which is modified from the extruded form by the incorporation of a pair of spaced, generally symmetrically located openings or slots 49 to afford selective disengageable connection with the balancing means. While under some circumstances, the use of a simple aperture or hole in the rib 47 is suicient to permit attachment of an open ended hook or the like, formed at the lower end of the sash balancing means, the preferred construction utilizes a pair of keyhole slots each having their stems 51 disposed in an inclined fashion toward the central portion of the outer or free edge of the rib 47. Thus, the disclosed hanger may be detachably engaged With a sash balancing means having a closed hook or loop, such as that shown. Moreover, each of the inclined slots is oriented :in a direction downwardly from the point of support by the sash balancing means and thereby acts to prevent accidental disengagement of the balancing means from the hanger. The use of the described pair of slots contributes to the adaptability of the hanger for use in either left or right hand situations as this feature presents a slot at the opposite end of the slide from the sash supporting clip regardless of the slide end from which the sash supporting clip extends. t

Improved guidance for the movement of the hanger 9 relative to the window frame during opening and closing of the window sashes is obtained by forming one of the slide side edges 53 with a angerSS extending in upstanding relation to the front face 45. As will become more apparent as the description continues, the flange 55 opcrates to prevent the side edge 53 and/or the adjacent top and bottom side hanger corners from becoming wedged in the adjacent corner of the combination guide and weather stripping member, or the frame, as the case may be, due to unevenly applied force on the window sash.

Adjacent the other side edge 57, the slide 41 is formed on the front face 45 in a fashion permitting the attachment of the clip 43 to the slide through the use of a single fastener withoutV the loss of locational stability which usually accompanies the use of but one fastener. More particularly, the other side edge 57 of the slide has a longitudinally extending marginal region 59 of reduced thickness which denes a shoulder 61 disposed lengthwise along the slide. Midway of the top and bottom edges and centrally of the width of the marginal region 59 there is provided a hole or aperture 63 through which a rivet or eyelet 64, or other suitable fastening means, is disposed to join the clip 43 and slide 41. The rear or sliding face 44 of the slide 41 is preferably extruded with a longitudinally disposed groove or recess 66 (see FIGURE 4) which provides a sunken area around the opening 63 so that the head of the fastening means employed does not extend beyond the rear face and result in pitting or scratching of the contacting surface and/or accompany- 1ing undesirable noise during movement of the sashes.

As previously noted, the hanger element, including an extending sash supporting clip, may be integrally molded. However, in the illustrated disclosure, a separate clip 43, is attached to the slide 41 to complete the construction of the hanger 9. As seen, the clip 43 is generally of L- shaped formation and can be readily fabricated from an angle bar of extruded plastic such as hard vinyl, or may be fabricated from an angle shaped beam` of any suitable metal. The clip is formed with a pair of legs 65 and'67, with the leg 65 being secured to the bracket. In this connection, the leg 65 is provided adjacent its free end with a centrally located hole 69 to per-mit the passage of a suitable fastening means when assembling the hanger. The leg 65 which is secured to the bracket is dimensioned so that the other leg 67 extends outwardly inthe direction of the window sash from a point spaced beyond the lower margin of the slide 4 1. This feature permits the use of the hanger with inclined window sills by preventing interference between the inclined sill of the window frame and the lower corner of the plate adjacent the flange 55.

The clip -43 can be secured to the slide 41 with the window supporting leg 67 extending outwardly from beyond either end of the slide, depending upon whether a left or right hand construction is desired. When the clip is secured to the slide in either of the left or right hand formations, one of the side edges of the leg 65 is in abutting engagement with the longitudinally extending shoulder 61 formed on the slide, and thus, the positiony of the clip relative to the slide will be stabilized to prevent swinging motion of the clip about the attaching fastener.

When a hanger is used to support a window sash in connection with the particular guide and weather stripping construction illustrated herein, the balancing spring 37 is first assembled with the hanger 9 by passing the 'lowerhook or hoop 39 into the keyhole slot 49 at the opposite end of the slide from the clip 43. The spring and hanger assembly is then located in the combination guide and weather stripping member 25 by slipping the balancing of the combination guide and weather stripping member.

As can be seen readily in FIGURE 2, when the hanger and spring are thus assembled relative to the combination guide and lweather stripping member, the leg 67 of the clip extends outwardly in window sash supporting disposition between, and in spaced relation to, the channel formed parting stop 29 and the housing 31. Moreover, in the particular construction shown, the width of the slide 41 is such as to nicely accommodate the distance between the parting stop 29 and the opposed inner surface of the farther wall of the adjacent housing 31. 1n this regard, free sliding movement of the hanger relative to the combination guide and weather stripping member incident to opening and closing of the window sash is afforded by the guidance characteristics of the side edges of the slide member, and particularly by the upstanding flange 55.

The flange 55 rides against the inner surface of the outermostupstanding wall of the housing 31 and effectively prevents the upper or lower corners of the slide side edge 53 from being wedged Abetween the overlapping sheet metal portions of the combination guide and weather stripping member. The flange 55 also serves generally to maintain the correct alignment of the hanger with the combination guide and weather stripping member to thereby vprevent similar wedging of .the other side corners of the hanger in the parting stop corner.

Additional guidance for the movement of the hanger can also be achieved by dirnensioning the height of the central rib 47 such that when the'window sash is in place, the free edge of the rib 47 will be closely positioned near the adjacent inner surface of the recess in the sash to prevent motion of the hanger about an axis extending horizontally in a plane parallel to the bottom 27 of the combination guide and weather stripping member. As previously explained, mis-alignment of the hanger in the above mentioned plane is effectively prevented by the action of the side flange 55 and by the width of the slide 41. Thus7 effective guidance can be obtained to properly maintain the hanger for smooth, sliding motion incident to the lowering and raising of the 'window sashes,

After the hanger and balancing springv have been assembled with .the combination guide and weather stripping member, the assembly can then be xed in the window frame and the upper end of the balancing spring suitably secured. In placing the window sash within the window frame, the hanger 9 is tirst drawn downwardly and then the window sash placed within the frame with the leg- 67 ofthe hanger in supporting engagement under the lower surface of the window sash.

This disclosed arrangement provides particularly satisfactory and silent service during adjustment of the window sashes. The smooth plastic rear sliding face 44 of the slide moves easily over the bottom of the combination guide and weather stripping member. Moreover, the noise level occurring incident to the sliding movement between the hanger and the underlying surface is unusually low and therefore, represents a large advance in this iield.

As noted throughout, the components which are assembled to form the hanger are designed to permit inexpensive fabrication and ready assembly in either left or right hand arrangements to thereby further increase savings through greater exibility during production and through the avoidance of unnecessary duplication in parts, inventory and production equipment. Furthermore, use of the disclosed hanger provides a very simple and easy Y means of hanging the sashes within the frame.

spring 37 within the associated housing 31 and by sliding t the slide 41 of the hanger'within the slot 71 formed between the free edge 3'5 of the housing and the bottom 27 Numerous changes and modifications may be made in the disclosed construction to achieve certain of the features mentioned herein without departing from the principles of the present invention. Various features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim: Y

1. A hanger for interconnecting a supported sash and a supporting sash balancing means, said hanger comprising an extruded vinyl plastic member of elongated, generally rectzmgular outline and a sash supporting clip fixed to said member, said plastic member having a longitudinally disposed, generally centrally located upstanding rib formed with a pair of slots therein located in converging relationship to the outer edge of said rib to aford selective detachable connection of said plastic member with the sash balancing means in either of a right or left hand arrangement, said plastic member having a longitudinally extending npstanding ange formed at one side edge for providing longitudinal guidance of said member incident to the opening and closing movement of the window sash, and said member being formed along the other side edge with a longitudinally extending marginal region of reduced thickness which defines a longitudinally disposed groove, said clip being generally L-shaped and being selectively securable to the marginal area of reduced thickness of said member in either of a right or left hand arrangement with one of the side edges of one of the clip legs in abutting engagement against said groove to provide increased locational stability of said clip, and vwith the other leg of said clip disposed generally in a horizontal plane and extending from beyond one of the end edges of said member in the direction of said window sash for detachable supporting engagement therewith.

2. In a window frame construction, a hanger for interconnecting a supported sash and a supporting sash balancing means, said hanger comprising an extruded plastic member and a sash supporting clip fixed to said member, said plastic member having a sash facing surface of generally elongated, rectangular form, a rib extending longitudinally and generally centrally of and in upstanding relation to said facing surface, said rib being provided with an opening therein for detachable connection of said plastic member with the sash balancing means, a flange disposed along one side edge of said facing surface in generally parallel relation to said rib, said -rib and said iange providing guidance of said plastic member within the window frame incident to the opening and closing movement of the window sash, and a shoulder formed along the other side edge of said facing surface, said clip being generally L-shaped, being fastened to said plastic member with one of the side edges of the clip in abutting engagement against said shoulder to provide increased locational stability, and being arranged with a leg extending outwardly in the direction of said Window sash in position for supporting engagement thereof.

3. A hanger usable in a window frame construction for interconnecting a supported sash and a supporting sash balancing means, said hanger comprising a member having a sash facing surface of generally elongated, rectangular form, a rib extending longitudinally of said member and inwardly of the side edges thereof in upstanding relation to said facing surface, a ange disposed along one side edge of said facing surface in generally similarly facing and parallel relation to said rib, said rib and said flange providing guidance of said member within the window frame incident to the opening and closing movement of the window sash, means for detachable connection of said member with the sash balancing means, and a leg extending outwardly in the direction of said Window sash in position for supporting engagement thereof.

4. A hanger usable in a window frame construction for interconnecting a supporting sash balancing means with a supported window sash having a side edge with a lengthwise recess therein, said hanger comprising an elongated plate member with one face adapted for facing engagement with the side edge of the sash and with a lengthwise rib extending from said face inwardly of the side edges thereof toward the recess in the sash for engagement thereby to stabilize said hanger relative to the sash during movement of the sash, means on said member for providing detachable connection with the supporting sash balancing means, and a leg extending outwardly of said face for disengageable support of a window sash.

5. The combination in a window frame of a sash balancing means, a sash having a side edge with a lengthwise recess therein housing at least a portion of said sash balancing means, and a hanger detachably interconnecting said sash balancing means and said sash, said hanger comprising a plate member having a sash edge facing surface of generally elongated form, a rib extending from said sash facing surface in inwardly spaced relation to the side edges thereof to a position lengthwise within said recess and in engagement with said recess so as to stabilize said hanger relative to said sash during movement of said sash in said window frame, said rib being provided with an opening therein for detachable connection of said plate member with said sash balancing means, and a leg extending outwardly from said sash edge facing surface in supporting engagement with said sash.

6. A hanger usable in a window frame construction for interconnecting a supporting sash balancing means and a supported window sash having a side edge with a generally centrally disposed lengthwise recess, said hanger comprising an elongated, non-metallic plate member having a face positionable in engagement with the side edge of thek sash, a leg extending in outward relation to said face for disengageable support of the window sash, means providing detachable connection with the supporting sash balancing means, and an upstanding flange along one of the longitudinal sides of said member for entry into and engagement with said recess to stabilize said hanger relative to said sash during opening and closing movement of the window sash.

7. A hanger for interconnecting a supported sash having a side edge with a recess for housing at least a portion of a supporting sash balancing means, said hanger comprising a member of elongated, generally rectangular form, said member having a face engageable with said side edge of said sash, a longitudinal upstanding rib extending in spaced relation from the side edges of said face and an upstanding flange extending in a similar direction and longitudinally from one side edge of said face for engagement with said recess to stabilize said member relative to said sash during movement of said sash, said rib being provided with an opening therein providing detachable connection of said member with the sash balancing means, and a leg extending outwardly of said face in the direction of said window sash from a point beyond the lower end of said member for supporting engagement with the window sash.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

